INTRODUCTION

George Orwell 1was born Eric Blair in India. At the age of eight, he was sent to a boarding school. During his years of study, he experienced inequality and oppression being the poorest boy in the school. When he finished studying, he became an Imperial Police in Burma, where he was a part of an oppressive government. After five years, he resigned. He became poor, but he sees his suffering as a punishment and the way of understanding the oppressed, by becoming one of them. He wrote books no one published and used the pen name George Orwell to prevent the embarrassment of his parents. In the latter part of his life, he joined the Spanish Civil War. He saw his fellow fighters being killed because some communists disagreed with their ideas. He viewed communism as another form of inequality and lying.

Many of his works are based mainly on the inequality and political lying, which he experienced in his life. Thus, George Orwells Animal Farm reveals his political perceptions by portraying inequalities in society and uncovering the lies perpetuated by politicians.

The story starts with the dream of the elder pig, Old Major. He dreams of a great rebellion, a rebellion where the animals prevail and overthrow the human race from their current position; being the leaders. No one knows when the great rebellion will burst. After Old Major dies, three pigs namely Snowball, Napoleon and Squealer continued
1

British author , pen name of Eric Arthur Blair, b. Motihari, India, June 25, 1903, d. London, Jan. 21, 1950 (http://www.levity.com/corduroy/orwell.htm)

Majors legacy. They pass the story of the great rebellion to young animals. One midsummers eve, farmer Jones forgets to feed the cows. One of the cows breaks in the shed and drove away farmer Jones family and workers. This is the beginning of a new era, the animals being the leader of their own. The pigs, being the smartest, make the seven commandments, a set of rules to be followed by the animals. In the beginning, the farm become prosperous but strives in the latter part. The pigs starts the perversion of the seven commandments, one by one, they change the rules. The leadership of the pigs is full of inequalities and lying. In the end, the pigs act like humans after all.

Societal Inequality.

Societal inequality is greatly seen in the whole novel [Animal Farm]. The author suggests that the novel symbolize the true meaning of communism, another form of societal inequality (www.his.com/~phe/farm.html). Communism is a scheme of equalizing the social conditions of life (www.brainydictionary.com). The concept of animalism is the term used in the novel to illustrate illusions which are used by the pigs as a means of satisfying their greed and lust for power

(http://www.netcharles.com/orwell/articles/col-paf.htm).

The pigs managerial role

results to slavery and foreshadows the perversion of the seventh commandment (www.his.com/~phe/farm.html). Instead of being equal with the other animals, the pigs assume their leadership because of their superior knowledge. In chapter two, the pigs already assume their leadership; they are the one who commands all the other animals. After the farm is turned over to the animals, they plan to harvest hay. This is the start of

the pigs managerial role. Now comrades, cried Snowball, throwing down the paint brush, to the hayfield! Let us make it a point of honour [honor] to get in the harvest more quickly than Jones and his men could do. (Orwell 43). This statement by Snowball clearly shows that they are somewhat higher than the others are. This part already violates the seventh law which states that All animals are equal (Orwell 43). Another example is the construction of the windmill. The pigs help in the planning and not in the construction. This plan was started by Snowball. Another leader, Napoleon opposes the construction of the windmill and lost by votation. The building of the windmill is put into progress. Commanding is what the pigs do, working is what other animals do. This is a clear a sign of inequality. Another point of inequality in the novel is that the pigs did not bother to teach other animals how to read. They made them ignorant and gullible. For example, Boxer, the powerful horse needs Clover to read to him what is written on the painted wall of the farm. Unlike the pigs, Clover and Benjamin, all others are illiterate. These are only a few things that prove inequality is seen throughout the novel and is believed by Orwell to exist among the society. Even worse than considering themselves as leaders, the pigs use the dogs to terrorize other animals occupying Animal Farm. This event starts with the birth of nine dogs. Napoleon took them away to educate them which foreshadows Napoleons evil plans. Instead of having an equal life among the other animals, Napoleon chooses to rule over them and uses the dogs as an advantage. His above the other animals clearly shows clearly.

In the last part of the novel, the revision of the seventh commandment which states that ALL ANIMALS ARE EQUAL BUT SOME ARE MORE EQUAL THAN OTHERS ARE (Orwell 133) shows the solid proof of the animals inequality.

Political Lying.

Political lying is one of the two things Orwell hates. In this view, he uses the character of Squealer, as a symbol of a false government liars. He is used as a propaganda apparatus because everyone believes his persuasive talks. He lies saying that the pigs take more power because this is necessary for the well being of all. He is the one responsible for the sudden change of the seven commandments. He was able to change it over and over because most of the animals can not and do not know how to read. He took advantage of their illiteracy. Squealer is the who spreads the big lie and makes the animals believe him. For example, he told a big lie about Napoleons opposition to the windmill. The lie about it is that he tells the animals that Napoleon is the one who starts the plan of the construction of the windmill, which is a big lie. The truth is, Napoleon even urinates on the plans. It is crystal clear that the politicians rather the leaders are telling big lies. It is clear that this is a big lie, because it was stated before that Napoleon even urinated on the plans. The second big lie that Squealer spread is about the death of boxer. He told that Boxer is going to be fine. Squealer even gives Boxer a medicine that they found in the medicine chest. One day, Boxer was taken away by an unknown man. Benjamin reads the van as the slaughterers. Then came Squealer and explains everything another way round by lying that the van formerly belongs to a slaughterer and is bought

by a veterinary surgeon and never have the time to repaint it. But the truth is that the veterinary surgeon was really a slaughterer (Ball 73). To prove that the man was really a slaughterer, this quote will justify:

A moment later his face disappeared from the windows and there was the sound of a tremendous drumming of hoofs inside the van. He [Boxer] was trying to kick his way out. The time had been a few kicks from Boxers hoofs would have smashed the van to matchwood. But alas! His strength had left him; and in a few moments the sound of drumming hoofs grew fainter and died away. (Orwell 124)

This quote justifies the lie. Boxer is struggling instead of relaxing and he never again draws his face out of the window. This also clears the lie, because if the man is a veterinary surgeon, Boxer will again draw his face out of the window and will not struggle to his death. This proves that Squealer is really lying that Boxer is going to the doctor. The second thing that proves political lying is that they are abusing their power to lie and make others believe them. The pigs, who conducts and starts the seven commandments, are the ones who violate it. Squealer changes the commandments from time to time to cover up their big lies. Because having the superior knowledge and power, they tend to lie and corrupt. As a support, this is a quote from Lord Acton2 which states that: Power tends to corrupt; absolute power corrupts absolutely

(http://www.acton.org/about/lordacton/). This clearly states that the pigs abuses their powers to control and to lie to other animals. The seven commandments is changed over
2

Historian Lord Acton (1834-1902) issued epic warnings that political power is the most serious threat to liberty. Born in Naples, he was educated in England, Scotland, France and Germany, developing an extraordinary knowledge of European political history. (www.libertystory.net/LSTHINKACTON.html )

time to hide their lies which itself is a lie. This is the main lie about the concept of Animalism. It is clearly seen that they change the whole thing into one big lie. The second proof that the pigs are full of lies is they consider themselves as masters. They are lying because they believe that any other animal will be forced to believe them because they are the leaders and they have the dogs behind them. They consider themselves masters throughout the novel. They use their power as masters to lie. They assume that whatever they say, other animals will believe them. A number of events prove that they are abusive leaders that make them lie. For example, they change the seven commandments unknowingly, which is set to the animals, and they believe it even though something is different from what they know before. They abuse their powers, they always lie. Until the end, lie marks the center attitude of the pigs by having a meeting with the humans.

Like what was stated about societal inequality, the end of the book really proves that all of the schemes, rules and way of living are all lies. The thought of animals are different from men is a lie. It is clear that in the end of the novel, the animals can not recognize which is which [the pigs from humans and humans to pigs]. The perversion of the seventh commandment (www.his.com/~phe/farm.html) signifies the biggest lies of all, that the rule is All animals are equal (Orwell 43) is changed to the horrifying ALL ANIMALS ARE EQUAL BUT SOME ANIMALS ARE MORE EQUAL THAT OTHERS (Orwell 133).

CONCLUSION

Animal Farm portrays Orwells view of politics. He sees inequality and lies beyond it. He was captivated to write this novel because he wants to point out that there is really inequality and lying in this society were living in today. George Orwell even stated that No book is genuinely free from political bias. The opinion that art should have nothing to do with politics itself is a political attitude.

(http://whitewolf.newcastle.edu.au/words/authors/O/OrwellGeorge/essay/whyiwrite.html) He stated this in his work Why I Write. He even wrote an article about his work Animal Farm: was the first book in which I tried, with full consciousness of what I was doing, to fuse political purpose and artistic purpose into one whole."

(www.gradesaver.com). He uses his experiences as his inspiration to justify what is wrong in out society today. From childhood to his death, this person proves that he is aware what really is happening in our cruel society that is full of lies and inequalities.

From time to time, George Orwell reminds that we are standing on an imperfect society on his novel. We are living on a society that is full of societal inequalities and political lying. It can be clearly concluded, like what just Orwell stated in his piece Why I Write that the novel is a work of politics, about the lies and inequalities it brings to the society.

LITERATURE CITED Orwell, George. Animal Farm. Introduction by C.M. Woodhouse. New York: New American Library a division of Penguin Group (USA) Inc, 1996 Ball, David. Barrons Book Notes on George Orwells Animal Farm. New York: Barrons Educational Series, 1984 www.his.com/~phe/farm.html http://www.levity.com/corduroy/orwell.htm www.brainydictionary.com www.gradesaver.com http://whitewolf.newcastle.edu.au/words/authors/O/OrwellGeorge/essay/whyiwrite.h tml http://www.acton.org/about/lordacton/) www.libertystory.net/LSTHINKACTON.html http://www.netcharles.com/orwell/articles/col-paf.htm)

George Orwells Animal Farm as portrayal Of his political perceptions

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A Term Paper Submitted To The UPRHS English Department

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In Partial Fulfillment Of The Requirements In English Communication Skills IV

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By Neil U. Dela Pea Johnson Robert A. Lazo

March 2005

Animal Farm TS: George Orwells Animal Farm reveals his political perceptions by portraying inequalities in society and uncovering the lies perpetuated by politicians. Topic Outline I. II. Introduction Political Perceptions A. Societal inequality 1. Pigs managerial role a. Pigs leadership b. Educational Rights 2. Pigs use of dog a. To terrorize animals b. To kill animals B. Political Lying 1. Squealer as propaganda apparatus a. Opposition to windmill b. Death of Boxer 2. Abuse of Power a. violation of the seven commandments b. consideration as masters

III. Conclusion